Multi-Compartment Containers

ABSTRACT

Multi-compartment containers including multi-compartment cans, canisters, boxes and bags and methods for using the same are disclosed. Multi-compartment containers that provide access to one portion of the contents until depleted while maintaining a seal and thus protecting the freshness or potency, of the contents on another portion allows products to be packaged and sold in a way that maintains freshness and potency longer. Each compartment of the multi-compartment containers can be configured to have either a single-use or re-sealable seal.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Application claims priority to provisional Application No.61/345,974. This Application is also related to application Ser. No.12/622,853, entitled “Multi-Compartment Container,” (Attorney Docket No.021849-000130US) which is a continuation in part based on applicationSer. No. 12/415,910, entitled “Method of Packaging UsingMulti-Compartment Containers,” (Attorney Docket No. 021849-000120US)which is a divisional application of application Ser. No. 10/948,837,now U.S. Pat. No. 7,571,829, entitled “Multi-Compartment Container”(Attorney Docket No. 021849-000110US), which claims priority toProvisional Application No. 60/505,410, entitled “Multi-CompartmentContainer,” filed on Sep. 23, 2003 (Attorney Docket No.021849-000100US), the disclosures of which are all incorporated hereinby reference in their entirety for all purposes.

BACKGROUND

Embodiments of the present invention relate to packaging for consumerand commercial products that can lose potency or freshness when thepackage is opened and the contents are exposed to atmosphericconditions, such as oxygen and moisture in air. While such problems arepresent in traditional sizes and portions, they are a particularlypronounced in products that are typically purchased in “bulk” or“economy” sizes or take some amount of time to use or consume once thepackage has been opened. The amount of product or size of the portionthat is considered “bulk” or “economy” sizes can depend on the nature ofthe product. For example, ground coffee can quickly lose its aromaticoils when exposed to air, while other dry goods, such as dry rice anddried beans, are much more stable when exposed to air. Other products,such as baking powder, can begin losing potency immediately uponexposure to air. Accordingly, the amount of the product that might beconsidered “bulk” or “economy” size can vary with the type of theproduct and its ability to maintain freshness upon exposure to air.

One particular problem with “bulk” or “economy” size single compartmentpackaging is that the entirety of the contents is exposed to the aironce the package is opened for the first time and each time the packageis accessed to remove more product. As such, the possible savingsrealized on a per serving or per use basis can be and are often lost dueto spoilage or staleness of at least some of the product if not used ina timely manner. This problem is only exacerbated by the mandatory orvoluntary removal of preservatives from many products and food stuffs

FIG. 1 shows three examples of conventional packages or containers thatare used for consumer and commercial products. Typical cans orcanisters, represented by can 105, are available in various sizes andproportions and made of various materials, such as metal, plastic,cardboard, paperboard, foil, Mylar™, or a composite of any of theforegoing. Conventional boxes or cartons, such as box 110, similarly,are available in various sizes and proportions and made of variousmaterials, such as metal, plastic, cardboard, paperboard or a compositeor combination of any of the foregoing. Conventional bags, such as bag115, also are available in various sizes and proportions and made ofvarious materials, such as paper, plastic, Mylar™, foil or a combinationof any of the foregoing. Plastics can include traditional variations ofpolyethylene. Each of can 105, box 110 and bag 115 are singlecompartment containers. As such each exhibit a similar problem withsingle compartment containers in that once they are opened, the entirecontents of the container are exposed to air and moisture.

As known, exposure to air and moisture can cause many products, such asfood stuffs, to lose freshness or go stale. To avoid continued exposureto air and moisture, some configurations of can 105, box 110 and bag 115include re-sealable or reusable lids and closures. For example, can 105might include a reusable plastics lid, box 110 might include are-sealable top having some type of reusable adhesive, while bag 115might be equipped with a re-sealable or reusable closure like a zipperor a clip. However, such re-sealable or reusable closures still allowthe entirety of the remaining contents to be exposed to new air andmoisture each time the package is opened to access the product.

As individuals, families and businesses increasingly purchase staple andother products in “bulk” or “economy” sizes or portions, there is a needto preserve the freshness and potency of products after the package isopened and until the product is used, consumed or depleted. Embodimentsof the present invention address these and other issues.

BRIEF SUMMARY

One embodiment is directed toward a multi-compartment container having afirst compartment, and a second compartment, wherein the firstcompartment and the second compartment can be separately filled with aproduct and separately sealed.

Another embodiment is directed toward a multi-compartment containerwherein the first and second compartments are defined by a box or acarton having an internal divider.

Yet another embodiment is directed toward a multi-compartment containerwherein the first and second compartment are defined by a bag having afirst sealed end, a second sealed end and a divider seal disposedbetween the first sealed end and the second sealed end and separatingthe first and second compartments.

Another embodiment is directed toward a method of using amulti-compartment container. The method includes obtaining amulti-compartment container having a product packaged in two or morecompartments and opening a first compartment to access the contents. Thecontents of the first compartment can then be used until depleted. Whenthe contents of the first compartment are depleted, a second compartmentis opened to access the contents of the second compartment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows three type of conventional packages that can be improved byvarious embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows three examples of multi-compartment versions of thepackages shown in FIG. 1, as improved by various embodiments of thepresent invention.

FIG. 3 shows a multi-compartment box according to one embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 4 shows a multi-compartment container according to one embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows a multi-compartment bag according to one embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 6 shows a multi-compartment can/canister according to oneembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows a multi-compartment carton according to one embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 8 shows a flowchart of a method for using a multi-compartmentcontainer according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 shows a multi-compartment bag according to one embodiment of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present invention are directed towardmulti-compartment containers and packages that can be used to helpbetter preserve the freshness and potency of consumer and commercialproducts. In particular, the embodiments of the present invention aredirected to multi-compartment bags, pouches, boxes, cartons, cans andcanisters that allow users to access and use a portion of the productcontained therein while keeping one or more portions of the productsealed in the same state as it was originally packaged. In particular,the multi-compartment storage devices or containers include at least twocompartments in which sundry consumer and commercial products can bepackaged in multiple portions, thus protecting some portion of theproduct from environmental conditions, such as air and moisture, whilethe opened portion is used.

According to various embodiments, multi-compartments can be filled by amanufacturer, packager or reseller with at least one product may besusceptible to loss of freshness or potency when exposed toenvironmental conditions outside of the multi-compartment container. Thesize of the compartments in the multi-compartment container can be equalor different. Similarly, the size of each compartment of themulti-compartment container can be based on the nature of the packagedcontents. For example, products such as cereal, which have a moderateresistance to becoming stale, might be packaged in a compartment of onemulti-compartment container that is larger than the compartment inanother multi-compartment container used to package baking soda, whichis highly susceptible to loss of potency. Typically, the moresusceptible a product is to loss of freshness or potency, the more itbecome desirable to package it in a smaller compartment ofmulti-compartment container, so as to protect the remaining product inother compartment of the multi-compartment container.

FIG. 2 shows improvements to the can or canister 105, box 110 and bag orsack 115 as shown in FIG. 1. The illustrations of multi-compartment can205, multi-compartment box 210 and multi-compartment bag 215 show theimprovements according to various embodiments of the present invention.Each of the of the varieties of multi-compartment container, shown inFIG. 2 can be made of various materials and include various seals andlids based on the type of product that they will be used to package.Furthermore, even though the examples shown FIG. 2 each have twocompartments, various embodiments of the present invention can includemore than two compartments.

Can 205 can include two compartments 206 and 207. Compartment 206 and207, as well as other compartments in other embodiments, can beseparately manufactured and then attached to one another. In suchembodiments, each compartment can be a full or partial container with orwithout a full set of side/walls, top and bottom. Such embodiments aredescribed in more detail in related U.S. Pat. No. 7,571,829, and U.S.patent application Ser. No. 12/622,853. Alternatively, compartments 206and 207 of can 205 can be made of a single cylindrical or other shapeouter body with an interior divider wall 208.

The divider wall 208 can be oriented in any plane within can 205. In yetother embodiments, can 205 can include more than two compartments. Insome embodiments, the divider wall 208 can affixed to the interior wallof a cylinder, while in other embodiments the divider wall 208 can beincluded in the exterior structure of the can 205. In such embodiments,the divider wall 208 can be used to connect two cylinders of similar ordissimilar materials having either the same or different volumes.

Similarly, the divider wall 208 can have any shape to accommodatevarious products or the divide up the volume of the multi-compartmentcontainer into structurally or visually interesting or aestheticvolumes. For example, divider wall 208 need not be a flat disc. In fact,for the purposes of reducing the material needed to manufacture thedivider wall 208, divider wall can include stamped or molded ribs toincrease the structural integrity. Also, it is possible that the dividerwall can be in the shape of a cone, a parabolic rotation, or bubbleshape with at least one plane, edge or rim that can connect to the wallof can 205. Such configurations can provide novel ways to divide theinterior volumes of the multi-compartment container. Such embodimentscan be particularly desirable for multi-compartment containers withtransparent or translucent side walls, such that the divider and theseparate volumes within the multi-compartment container can be seen orobserved from thee exterior of the multi-compartment container.

According to various embodiments of the present invention, box 210 caninclude at least two compartments, such as 211 and 212. Box 210 can alsoinclude more than two compartments. Similar to box 110, box 210 can bemade of various materials. For example, the walls, sides, top and bottomof box 210 can include cardboard, paperboard, metal, wood, plastic,foil, Mylar™ or some composite or combination of the foregoingmaterials. Any material suitable for making walls, sides, top and bottomrigid enough to contain the intended contents of box 210 can be used.

Compartment 211 and 212 can be constructed of the same or differentmaterials. In some embodiments, box 210 having compartments 211 and 212,can be constructed of a single piece of cardboard, paper or paperboard,or plastic using known box folding pattern and construction techniques.In other embodiments, box 210 can be constructed by joining two separateboxes having compartments 211 and 212 respectively. In otherembodiments, box 210 can include a divider 213 affixed to the interiorof box 210. The dividing wall 213 can define compartment 211 and 212with identical or different volumes. According to other embodiments, box210 can have more than two compartments. The divider wall 213 can beoriented in any plane within box 210, including planes parallel orperpendicular to the long or short axes of the box 210. Divider wall213, can also have any shape suitable for separating the volumes ofcompartment 211 and 212.

In various embodiments, compartments 211 and 212 can be used to packagethe same or different products, materials or food stuffs. Eachcompartment 211 and 212 can be opened, unsealed or accessedindividually. In such embodiments, while the contents of one compartmentare in the process of being used or consumed, the contents of the othercompartment remain sealed to protect freshness or potency. Suchconfigurations have the advantage of providing larger quantities of theproduct to be packaged and sold with less potential of the contentslosing freshness or potency due to exposure to air. From a consumerpoint of view, economical quantities of products can be purchased with alower chance that the purchased product be lost to waste. Theseadvantages provide potential for greater profitability on the side ofthe manufacturer or packager by creating a more desirable packagedproduct and thus higher demand, at the same time as providing potentialcost savings of bulk quantity purchases for the user or consumer. Asused herein, the terms consumer can include any type of entity,including, but not limited to, individuals, families, restaurant, foodpreparation professional, chefs, workers, hospitals, hotels, etc.

Also shown in FIG. 2 is bag 215. As shown, bag 215 can have twocompartments 216 and 217. In some embodiments, compartments 216 and 217can be formed by crimping, sewing or heat welding the non-rigid orsemi-rigid walls of bag 215 at seam 218. The non-rigid or semi-rigidwalls of bag 215 can include paper, plastic film, foil, Mylar™,cellulose or some combination or composite thereof. Bag 215 can have itstop and bottom end seams 219 and 220 sealed in the same manner. In otherembodiments, seam 218 can be oriented in the longitudinal directionrunning from end 219 to 220. In yet other embodiments, ends 219 and 220can include re-closable seams or seals, such as zipper-type or reusableadhesive-type closures.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a two compartments cereal box 310A accordingto one embodiment of the present invention. Cereal box 310A can includecompartments 311 and 312. The construction of cereal box 310A caninclude the same materials as described above in reference to box 210.Compartments 311 and 312 can be constructed of or include the same ordifferent materials.

In various embodiments, a consumer can access and use the contents ofcompartment 311 without exposing the contents of compartment 312. Oncethe contents of compartment 311 are depleted, a user can open or unsealcompartment 312 to access the contents of that compartment. Each ofcompartment 311 and 312 can include desiccants. Compartments 311 and 312can also include liners, or re-sealable or reusable lids or closureselements for creating an airtight or hermetic enclosure, separate fromthe airtight or hermetic enclosure of the other compartment of themulti-compartment container.

Although cereal box 310A is shown and described as a cereal box, thisexample is only illustrative and should not be construed as limiting abox such as 310A to being only used for packaging cereal. Cereal box310A, as well as any other container according to other embodiments, canbe used to package numerous types of dry food, commercial or industrialproducts that are sensitive to air, such as grains, chips, marshmallows,pretzels, nuts, dried fruit, oats, weight control supplements, proteinpowders, milk additives, such as chocolate milk powder, plaster ofParis, baby food, cookies, crackers, baking mixes, pancake mixes, cakemixes, brownie mixes, drink mixes, car wax, greases, sealants, epoxies,glues, cigars, cigarettes etc.

As shown, the cereal box 310A can have an exterior surface 315. Exteriorsurface 315 can include a material identical to that of cereal box 310Aor comprise a wrapper made of a different material. For example, thebody of cereal box 310A can be made of cardboard or a composite ofcardboard and plastic, while the exterior surface 315 can be or wrapmade of plastic film or a separate piece of paper wrapped around orotherwise affixed to cereal box 310A. In some embodiments, it isdesirable for the exterior 315 to have printed information to identifythe contents and the proper use of the contents of cereal box 310A andits constituent compartments 311 and 312.

Box 310B shows the interior construction of cereal box 310A. As shown,box 310B includes a divider 318 separating compartments 311 and 312.Divider 318 can be oriented in any direction, including, but not limitedto, vertical or horizontal with respect to the orientation of packaging.Divider 318 can be integral to the construction of the box 310B or canbe a separate piece and even be made of a different material than theexterior 315, walls, sides, top and bottom of box 310B. In someembodiments, it is beneficial for the material of box 310B to include acomposite material to further insure freshness and potency of thecontents of compartments 311 and 312. To that end, it is often desirableto use a cardboard or paperboard laminated or other combined withplastic or Mylar™ type product in the construction of box 310B.

Various other boxes and containers according to various embodiments ofthe present invention can be made of waterproof or moisture resistantmaterials such as plastic. Such embodiments are particularlyadvantageous when the contents of multiple compartments of thecontainers described herein are wet or moist. For example, suchmulti-compartment containers are useful for dispensing one portion ofpre-moistened wipes while keeping another portion fresh for future use.Such wipes can include fabric or paper based towels pre-moistened orlaced with solutions, detergents, and medications for personal care andhygiene or household or industrial use. Some embodiments include wipes,moistened disinfectants, cleaners, polishes, waxes, soaps, ormedications and topical solutions such as make-up removers, skintreatments, moisturizers and sanitary solutions. FIG. 4 shows oneexample of a plastic box 310C according to one embodiment of the presentinvention that can be suitable for packaging dry or wet products. Aswith the container shown in FIG. 3, the divider wall 318 in FIG. 4 canalso be disposed in any orientation with respect to the other surfacesof the container.

By using an appropriate plastic or other polymer, box 310C can be usedto package or contain various types of liquids and wet products thatrequire special handling or an airtight seal to maintain usefulness. Theairtight seal afforded by using a plastic material for the body and lid318C for box 310C can be useful in other applications as well. Plasticmaterials are useful for making reusable and re-sealable or reusablelids or closure elements such as lid 318C. Such types of re-sealablelids or closure elements are useful for products that are usedfrequently or when the container is required to withstand beingtransported after the container is opened. For example, box 310C can beused to package products such as wet or dry baby formula that mustsurvive being carried in a carry bag with other supplies on a regularbasis while protecting the baby formula from contamination andpreventing the baby formula from spilling. Such containers are alsouseful for frequently used and moisture sensitive products such aspowdered drink, iced-tea and chocolate milk mixes.

Box 310D shows the internal construction of box 310C. As shown, box 310Dcan include compartments 316 and 317 that can be individually sealedwith re-sealable lids 320A and 320B that make up lid 318D. In someembodiments, lids 320A and 320B can be opened and closed as a singleunit or operated independently as individual lids. Embodiments in whichlid 318D operates as a single piece, compartments 316 and 317 can besealed by an additional and separately openable seals, such as one timeuse foil or plastic seals applied at the packaging facility. In otherembodiments, lids 320A and 320B can be operated independently of oneanother and perform as the factory seal and the re-sealable lid forcompartments 316 and 317 respectively.

In some embodiments, box 310C and 310D can be molded as a single pieceor can include multiple separately molded pieces that can be adhered,welded or otherwise affixed to another to form multi-compartment boxes.In some embodiments, it may be desirable for box 310C and box 310D toinclude pour spouts or anti-drip spouts to prevent spills or protect theoutside of the box from being contaminated or stained by the contentscontained in compartments 316 and 317. Although only two compartmentsare described in reference to the boxes 310C and 310D are shown in FIG.4, various other embodiments contemplate more than two compartments.

FIG. 5 shows a multi-compartment bag according to another embodiment ofthe present invention. Bag 510A can have sides or walls made of anysuitable non-rigid or semi-rigid material for containing and maintainingfreshness of the intended contents. For example, the material of thenon-rigid or semi-rigid walls of bag 510A can be plastic, plastic film,Mylar, paper or biodegradable or compostable cellulose or combinationthereof. The material of the walls or sides of bag 510A can include anytype of flexible, non-rigid or semi-rigid material. Bag 510B shows theinternal construction of bag 510A.

As shown, bag 510B can include compartments 516 and 517 divided bydividing seam 519. As in other embodiments of the present invention,compartments 516 and 517 can be used to contain or package the same ordifferent materials from one another. Seam 518 can be formed in bag 510Bto define separate compartments 516 and 517. As such, bag 510B caninclude compartments 516 and 517 as two separately openable pouches eachhaving a separate portion of product therein. Seam 518 can be formed bycrimping, sewing, welding or adhering the walls of bag 510B to oneanother to form two compartments 516 and 517. In some embodiments, seam518 can include perforations that can be used to detach one of thecompartments from the other compartments once the contents of thecompartment are depleted. In such embodiments, the multi-compartment bag510B can be reduced in size as the contents are used to save storagespace and for the convenience of the user.

User or consumers can open and access the contents of each compartmentor pouch individually, while maintaining the freshness of the contentsof the other pouch until the contents of the first pouch are depleted.

Bags 510A and 510B can be used to package various types of materials,products and foodstuffs. For example, bag 510A can be used to packagefoods such as potato chips, pretzels, nuts, hot dogs, salad and otherfoods that are susceptible to spoilage or staleness upon exposure tooxygen and moisture. In related embodiments, each compartment of amulti-compartment bag can contain a full or partial loaf of sliced orunsliced bread. In embodiments directed toward packaging bread shown inFIG. 9, the divider 910 that separates compartments 901 and 902 ofmulti-compartment container 900 can be a sheet of similar or dissimilarmaterial as the walls of the multi-compartment bag to provide a lessconstricting volume within each compartment. Such dividers can beconstructed according to various methods of attaching and pleating thebag material. The pleats of divider 910 can be similar to pleats 911.The openable portions 905 and 907 of the multi-compartment s can includevarious closure systems to help preserve the freshness of the contents.Such closures can include twist ties 909, clips, and zip type seals.

Alternatively, bag 510A can be used to package refill portions ofregularly used household goods such as dish, laundry and hand soap, aswell as condiments such as ketchup mustard or mayonnaise. In suchembodiments, the use of a bag 510A can help reduce the amount ofpackaging required for distributing regularly used household goods whilealso providing users and consumers with an economical quantity discount.

FIG. 6 shows another embodiment that can include a multi-compartmentcontainer 605 for packaging ice cream. In such embodiments,multi-compartment container 605 can include compartments 606 and 607that can contain a portion of ice cream. Each compartment 606 and 607separate from one another by divider 608, as described above inreferences to FIG. 2. Each compartment 606 and 607 can also be sealedwith a plastic film, foil or Mylar™ single use cover and also include areusable lid 609A or 609B respectively. The single use seals allows aconsumer to open only one portion of ice cream contained inmulti-compartment container 605, thus protecting the unopened portionfrom freezer burn or the formation of ice crystals that can developdespite the use of the reusable lids 609A and 609B, and thus prevent thedegradation of the flavor and texture of ice cream.

FIG. 7 show another embodiment of a multi-compartment container. In thisembodiment, multi-compartment container can include a compositecontainer for beverages or other liquids, such as dairy products likemilk, cream, half and half, and buttermilk, as well as fruit andvegetable juices, soy milk, almond milks, peanut milk and otherspecialty beverages. Such multi-compartment containers can include atleast two compartments 705 and 707 separated by divider 710 that canhave screw top caps like lids 706 and 708 respectively.Multi-compartment container 700 can include an integrated construction,or can include two separated formed containers that are joined togetheralong divider 710. Multi-compartment container 700 can include any ofthe aforementioned materials suitable for containing liquids.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a method 800 for using a multi-compartmentcontainer according to various embodiments of the present invention. Atstep 810, the consumer can obtain a product packaged in amulti-compartment container. In some embodiments, obtaining a packagedproduct having a multi-compartment container includes buying a productat a store or ordering a product online, while in other embodiments, theuser can reuse a multi-compartment container refilled with the contentsof his or her choice. A multi-compartment container can be used for homecanning purposes.

At step 820, a user can open one of the compartments of themulti-compartment container as described in reference to FIGS. 1-5above. The contents of the first compartment of the multi-compartmentcontainer can be used either all at once or incrementally, as thecontents of the multi-compartment container are needed. If the contentsof the multi-compartment container are being used incrementally, thetime required to complete the contents of the first compartment may besuch that if the entirety of the contents of the container were exposedto air and moisture, the quality, freshness or potency of the contentsmight be compromised if it were not sealed in the second compartment.

In step 830, a user can use the product contained in the firstcompartment of the multi-compartment container until it is depleted. Atthis point the user can open a second compartment of themulti-compartment container at step 840. The contents of the secondcompartment of the multi-compartment container can then be used until itis depleted in step 850. Once the product contained in the secondcompartment of the multi-compartment container is depleted, the user canthen use any other available compartments of the multi-compartmentcontainer still containing product. This is the case if themulti-compartment container includes more than two separatecompartments.

At step 860, if there is yet another compartment of themulti-compartment container that still contains product, the user canrepeat steps 840 through 860 until no product remains in anycompartments of the multi-compartment container. Once all contents ofthe multi-compartment container are depleted, the user can discard,reuse or recycle the multi-compartment container in step 870.

The above description is illustrative and is not restrictive. Manyvariations of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in theart upon review of the disclosure.

One or more features from any embodiment may be combined with one ormore features of any other embodiment without departing from the scopeof the invention. For example, any of the above-describedmulti-compartment containers can be combined with any other suitableembodiment or type of multi-compartment container in any suitable mannerin methods or systems according to embodiments of the invention. As anillustration, a multi-compartment container can have a first box typecompartment and second bag type compartment. Alternatively, onecompartment can have plastic or composite walls to contain wet productswhile the attached second compartment can have cardboard walls tocontain dry products.

A recitation of “a”, “an” or “the” is intended to mean “one or more”unless specifically indicated to the contrary.

1. A multi-compartment container comprising: a first compartment; and asecond compartment, wherein the first compartment and the secondcompartment are separate and separately sealable; and wherein at leastthe first and second compartments comprise walls.
 2. Themulti-compartment container of claim 1 wherein the walls comprises ametal, a plastic, a paperboard, a cardboard, a cellulose, a foil, or aMylar™ material.
 3. The multi-compartment container of claim 1 whereinthe first or second compartment comprise a reusable closure element. 4.The multi-compartment container of claim 1 wherein the first and secondcompartment are defined by a box having an internal divider.
 5. Themulti-compartment container of claim 1 wherein the first and secondcompartments are defined by two separately formed boxes being connectedto one another.
 6. The multi-compartment container of claim 1 whereinthe first and second compartment are defined by a bag comprising: afirst end; a second end; and a divider seal disposed between the firstend and the second end.
 7. The multi-compartment container of claim 6wherein the first or second compartment comprise a reusable closureelement.
 8. The multi-compartment container of claim 6 wherein thedivider seal is formed by crimping, welding, sewing or adhering a firstwall of the bag to a second wall of the bag.
 9. The multi-compartmentcontainer of claim 6 wherein the divider seal is pleated to increase thevolume of a first compartment between the first end and the divider sealand a second compartment between the second end and the divider seal.10. The multi-compartment container of claim 1 wherein the first andsecond compartment are defined by a canister having an internal divider.11. The multi-compartment container of claim 10 wherein the first orsecond compartment comprise a reusable closure element.
 12. Themulti-compartment container of claim 1 wherein the first and secondcompartments are defined by two separately formed canisters beingconnected to one another.
 13. A method of using a multi-compartmentcontainer comprising:. obtaining the multi-compartment container havinga product packaged in a first sealed compartment and a second sealedcompartment; opening the first sealed compartment while maintaining aseal on the second sealed compartment; accessing and using the productin the first sealed compartment until depleted; and opening the secondsealed compartment once the product in the first sealed compartment isdepleted; wherein at least the first and second sealed compartmentscomprise non-rigid walls.